The photograph and letter, which was published in the Village News, led to a flurry of responses and a reunion between the children 62 years later.

The party, held at the West End Sports and Social club, gathered together 56 former schoolfriends and neighbours for a Bucks Fizz reception and tea on Sunday afternoon.

The victory party children came from places across the country as far afield as Dorset, Northampton and Cornwall.

Many also still live in the Elmbridge area and brought along photographs and memorabilia to share, and a raffle raised £138 for the catering.

Organiser Angela Stock-bridge said: “The response to the photograph and article in the Village News was astounding and it was wonderful to see so many West End friends brought together again.”

She said she was delighted that people had made so much effort to attend, and that many had said they would like the reunion to be an annual event.

Speakers included Derek Richardson, who was born in West End and gave anecdotes about his life in Esher and Walton.

Pat Baumann also regaled the reunion with stories about schoolboys who used to toboggan down Hawkshill Way in the 1940s, flipping over the house name plaques so people were unable to identify the houses.